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THE 



OFFICE OF THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY: 



SERMON, 



PREACHED AT THE ORDINATION OF 



MR. CHARLES T. TORREY, 



AS PASTOR AND TEACHER OF THE 



RICIIMOND-ST. CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH AND SOCIETY 



WEDNESDAY EVENING, MARCH 22d, 1S37 = 



BY REV. JACOB IDE. 

Pastor of the 2d Church in Medway, Mass. 










■ 






PROVIDENCE: 
PUBLISHED BY JOHN E. BROWN 

1837. 



E A. MARSHALL, PRINTER^ 






SERMON 



ROMANS XI, 13. 

I MAGNIFY MINE OFFICE, 

Paul was the Apostle of the Gentiles. It is his Apostle- 
ship, or office as a minister of the Lord Jesus Christ among 
the Gentiles, that he magnified. The only important differ- 
ence between the Apostleship of Paul, and that of the other 
Apostles, is the circumstance that he was particularly com- 
missioned to labor among the Gentiles, while their principal 
business was to preach the gospel to the lost sheep of the 
house of Israel. And the most important difference between 
the office of the Apostles, and that of the ordinary ministers 
of Christ is, that the former were endued with the mirac- 
ulous gifts of the Holy Ghost, and received their instruc- 
tions immediately from God; while the latter receive only 
the sanctifying influences of the Spirit, and form their 
opinions, not by any immediate communications from 
heaven, but from the light of the Holy Scriptures. The 
one were designed to be the authors of the christian scrip- 
tures, the other, the interpreters of them. 

Though it seems to have been designed, by Providence, 
that the miraculous gifts of the Holy Ghost should cease 
when the canon of scripture was completed ; yet it was 
evidently intended, that the Gospel should continue to be 
preached, and its ordinances administered, until the end of 
time. This is implied in the commission which Christ 
gave to his disciples, just before he ascended into heaven. 



4 

> a Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in 
the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy 
Ghost; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I 
have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always., 
even unto the end of the world. Amen." Now, unless 
we can make ourselves believe, that this commission look- 
ed forward no farther than to the end of the apostolic age, 
or that the apostles themselves went among all nations and 
continued their ministry unto the end of the world, we must 
admit that there were others appointed to succeed them, as 
truly authorized as they, to preach the word, and adminis- 
ter the ordinances of the Gospel. It is their duty, no 
less than the Apostle's, to magnify their office. " They 
are ambassadors for Christ;" "they are laborers together 
with God;" " they are ministers of Christ and stewards of 
the mysteries of God;" tC they watch for souls, as they 
that must give account." The magnitude and importance 
of this office ought to be made to appear. That course 
of conduct in a minister of the Gospel, which would be in- 
strumental of making the world see the full magnitude of 
his office, would undoubtedly be the most important ser- 
vice which he could render, either to God or his fellow- 
creatures. The truth then,, my brethren, to which the 
text naturally invites our attention, is this: Those who 

ARE CALLED TO THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY, OUGHT 
TO MAGNIFY THEIR OFFICE. 

In illustrating this truth, I shall attempt to show, 

I. "Who are called to the work of the ministry. 

II. "What they must do to magnify their office. 

III. The reasons why they should magnify their office.. 

An important inquiry is now before us, viz. "Who are 

CALLED TO THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY? The Lord Jc- 

sus Christ appears in person lo no one, at the present day. 



Those, whom he calls to the ministry, do not hear his 
voice, as did the fishermen of Galilee, saying, " Follow 
me, and I will make you fishers of men." Nor does God 
speak directly to them by his Spirit, and independently of 
his word and providence, teach them, that it is their duty 
to preach the Gospel. The teaching of the Holy Spirit 
in these days, is through the medium of the word and prov- 
idence of God. The present is not an age of miracles. 
No one is miraculously called to the work of the ministry, 
or miraculously prepared for it. But still there are men, 
at the present day, truly called of God to the work of the 
ministry, and who as really enter upon its duties in obe- 
dience to the intimations of his will, as did Peter or PauL 
God, now, appoints his ministers as truly as at any former 
age; he now makes them acquainted with their appoint- 
ment, as well as at any former age; he now lays men un- 
der obligation to preach the Gospel, as truly as he ever did; 
and he now makes them feel and obey this obligation, as 
.really as it was felt and obeyed by the immediate disciples 
.•of Christ. But here I shall be asked, how does God now 
call men to the work of the ministry ? I answer, by giv- 
ing them the requisite qualifications for this work, and 
turning their hearts particularly to it, and opening a way in 
his providence for their entrance upon it. Any man, in 
whom these three particulars unite, is, I apprehend, called 
to the work of the'ministry. If he possesses the requisite 
qualifications for this sacred calling; if his heart is supreme- 
ly set upon it; and if Providence so prepares the way 
before him, that he can enter upon the work without neg- 
lecting any other imperative duty, he is under obligation to 
make this the great business of his life. On the other 
hand, it appears to me to be a plain case, that no man, in 
whom these three particulars do not unite, is called of God 
to enter the work of the ministry. If a man is destitute of 
the necessary qualifications for the sacred office: if he is 
without piety; if he is essentially deficient in talents; if he 



6 

is without a competent degree of knowledge, it is a plain 
case, that he is not called of God to this important work, 
in which all these qualifications are indispensably necessary. 
And if he has all these qualifications, but feels a decided 
preference to some other calling, we have no reason to 
think, that God calls him to the work of the ministry. 
There are many good men, and many good and great men, 
and many good and great and learned men, whom God has 
designed for other important stations, and to whom he has 
given a predilection for them. Before a man can be certain, 
that it is the will of God that he should devote his life to 
the christian ministry, he must not only have evidence, 
that he is truly pious, that his talents are competent, and 
his education such, or becoming such, as the occasion re- 
quires, but he must feel a decided predilection for the 
work, on the ground that it is well suited to honor God 
and save the souls of men. His whole heart and soul 
must be in it. He must feel as though he could not be 
denied the privilege of serving God in the gospel of his 
Son. Many do thus ardently desire " the office of a 
bishop," which the apostle says " is a good work." This 
strong and inextinguishable desire for the work of the min- 
istry, which makes a man willing to forego the prospect 
of wealth, honor, and comparative leisure, which other sta- 
tions in life seem to promise him, and to encounter the la- 
bors, the privations, and the •complicated trials, which 
every intelligent man knows must attend the faithful dis- 
charge of duty in the sacred office, is one thing which 
indicates a call of God to the work. It is entirely satis- 
factory on the subject, when united with the requisite 
qualifications, and the openings of Divine Providence. 
This strong desire to be employed in the ministry of 
Christ, of which I am now speaking, which is the fruit of 
the Holy Spirit disposing the heart to honor God, and 
seek the salvation of perishing souls, is sometimes preced- 
ed by a natural predilection for the ministry, as an employ- 



jfient for life. Long before they are truly pious, and 
before there is any decided evidence that God has called, 
or ever will call them to the sacred office, those whom he 
intends shall be his faithful servants in this work, are 
sometimes placed in circumstances, in which they not only 
acquire much important knowledge, and form certain hab- 
its which are peculiarly useful in the stations that they 
subsequently occupy, but they are led to look with a de- 
cided preference to the ministry, as their future employ- 
ment. Samuel John Mills once told me, that he had from 
a child, a predilection for a missionary life. After having 
seen his father take leave of the family, and go off on a 
missionary tour, he would frequently saddle and mount the 
horse, ride up to the door, bid the family farewell, and 
then ride away, as he said, " on a mission." From this 
early period, to the day of his death, the subject of 
missions was to him, one of deep and inspiring interest. 
This is but one among a thousand facts, which might be 
related to show, that God is often preparing the way, by 
the circumstances in which children are placed, and the 
early habits which they are led to form, for the direction 
of their course after they shall have become the subjects 
of saving grace. 

Every one who enters the sacred office ought to feel a 
strong predilection for this work. The Lord will accept 
none but volunteers in this service. In our attempts there- 
fore to determine who are called to the christian minis- 
try, we are to look, not only for evidence of genuine 
piety, but for evidence that this piety is developing itself 
in love to the souls of men, in fervent desires for their 
salvation, in a particular attachment to the ministry of 
Jesus Christ, and in a willingness to assume its responsi- 
bilities, to endure its trials, and to perform its arduous 
and self denying labors. 



8 

When God gives this decided predilection for the min- 
istry, in connexion with the requisite qualifications for the 
work, he generally opens a way in his providence for an 
entrance upon it. When pious young men of promising 
talents, without a competent education, feel this strong 
desire to be employed in the ministry of the gospel, it 
is generally the case, that God in his providence pre- 
pares the way for their education, and then opens before 
them an appropriate field of labor. It is a plain case, 
that God calls no man to work, for which he cannot, if he 
does his duty, be prepared. It is generally plain, that 
he calls no man to a work for which he is prepared, with- 
out opening a way in his providence, in which he may, 
if he will do his duty, enter upon it. We are then, to 
consider those, and those only, as called to the work of 
the ministry, who possess the requisite qualifications, who 
in their hearts give this work a decided preference to 
every other as the employment of their lives, and whose 
entrance upon its labors is made practicable in the provi- 
dence of God. These are the proper subjects of ordi- 
nation ; the men who as the occasion requires, are to be 
solemnly set apart to the work whereunto God has called 
them, by prayer and the imposition of hands. Having 
shown who are called of God to the work of the ministry, 
I proceed to show, 

II. What they must do to magnify their office. 
Some commentators, and Dr. Macknight among others, 
consider the word c magnify' in the text, as synonymous 
wilh honor. It is nearly so, because the highest honor, 
which can be conferred upon the office of the ministry, is to 
make its real magnitude appear. But the former word 
appears to me decidedly more expressive, than the latter, 
as it suggests to the mind at once, not only the duty of 
honoring the office, but the way in which this is to be 
done. Ministers of Christ are to honor their office, by 



making it appear in its proper magnitude and importance. 
Or in other words, they must themselves duly appreciate 
its excellence, and make this manifest to the world. But 
what, in particular, have they to do, in order thus to 
magnify their office ? To this it may be replied, 

i . They must give themselves wholly to their work. 
Before they enter the sacred office, their hearts are turn- 
ed to it with supreme interest and affection, by that 
Spirit, by whom they are called ; and now they must 
continue to give it their whole hearts. It must continue 
to be the work which most deeply interests their feelings, 
in which success shall give them the highest joy, and a 
failure fill them with the deepest sorrow. 

They must devote all their time to this work. That 
which is occupied in necessary relaxation from the sever- 
ity of their labors, and in the performance of other imper- 
ative duties, is not, properly speaking, an exception from 
this rule; because they should aim to preserve their health, 
to promote their own temporal comfort, and to perform 
the duties which arise from their domestic and social re- 
lations, with a view to their higher usefulness as ministers 
of the Lord Jesus. As they have devoted their lives to 
this work, their time has become the Lord's, in a pecu- 
liar sense. It is consecrated time, which they have no 
right to appropriate to their own personal use. All of it 
is needed in the discharge of the numerous duties of their 
high vocation. 

They should devote their talents, and learning, and influ- 
ence, to the work of the ministry. There is ample scope 
in this work, for the greatest talent, and for the most ex- 
tensive and profound learning. There is no profession in 
which greater talents are needed, or in which they can be 
employed to greater advantage. Nor is there any sphere 
2 



w 

of action, in which God ever places a man, where learn " 
ing may be productive of more numerous or valuable re- 
sults. And the influence which any minister is able to 
exert, whether it arise from talents, or learning, or wealthy 
or station, or connexions, should all be devoted ultimately' 
to the furtherance of the gospel of Christ. If he has giv- 
en himself to God, as his public servant; if he has devot- 
ed his life to the work of the ministry; if God has honored 
him, by causing him to be invested with the sacred office, 
he has nothing, he ought to have nothing, too valuable to 
be made subservient to the promotion of this work. 

To give themselves wholly to their work, is a duty 
which the Scriptures expressly inculcate upon the minis- 
ters of the Gospel. When speaking particularly upon the 
duties which devolved on Timothy, the Apostle Paul says, 
" Meditate on these things; give thyself wholly to them." 
The minister who gives himself wholly to his work, does 
by this means magnify his office. It is then seen that this 
work is treated as a great and good work. When rational 
and intelligent men, under the influence of right feelings, 
give their whole time and talents to a work, that work nec- 
essarily appears to be one of great magnitude and impor- 
tance. And when it is seen to be an object, on which the 
whole hearts of such men are set; exciting their most ar- 
dent desires, awakening, their deepest solicitude, inspiring 
their highest hopes, and giving them, when successful in 
their exertions, the highest delight, it necessarily appears 
not only a great, but a glorious work. 

2. In order to magnify their office, ministers of the 
Gospel must faithfully declare the whole truth, which they 
are commissioned to teach. An ambassador to a foreign 
Court cannot honor the office with which he is invested, 
unless he act according to his instructions. If he neglect 
or refuse to bring forward every important subject of the 



11 

^pending negotiation, and to declare fully the wishes of his 
government upon each, he is unfaithful to his trust, and he 
dishonors the office with which he is invested. He is 
bound to set forth the claims of- his sovereign to their full 
extent, and in all their particularity, and to urge them, by- 
all the motives which can be drawn from the justice of his 
cause, the dignity of his government, the impolicy and 
wickedness of contention, and the happy consequences to 
both nations, of an amicable adjustment of their differen- 
ces. When he does this faithfully in regard to a subject 
of negociation, that is really important, his embassy ap- 
pears to be a great concern; worthy of the time it con- 
sumes, the talents which it occupies, the expense which it 
occasions, and of the government which projected it. His 
fidelity magnifies his office. Just so it is with respect to 
the ambassador of Christ. When he is faithful to the in- 
structions which he has received, and fearlessly declares 
the whole counsel of God, he magnifies the sacred office. 
Every minister of Christ is commissioned to proclaim, in 
the name of his master, the great truths of the Gospel. 
The instructions which he has received are definite and 
full. He cannot go beyond the word of God, to speak 
less or more. His own reason is to be employed in inter- 
preting the Scriptures, and in ascertaining what the word 
of the Lord is; but when he has found the meaning of 
the sacred text, this, and not his own philosophy, is what 
he is bound to proclaim. Some portions of the word of 
God are peculiarly adapted to the wants of men in one 
condition, and other portions, to the wants of men in 
another condition. There is room, therefore, for the ex- 
ercise of sound discretion, in rightly dividing the word of 
God, and in giving to each his portion in due season. 
But a minister is not left to his own discretion, whether 
he will withhold or deliver that portion of the word of God, 
which is particularly adapted to the circumstances in which 
his people are found, and suited to meet their spiritual ne- 



12 

cessities. And as all of the word of God is suited to his 
people, at different times and in various circumstances, 
so he is bound, as occasion requires, to declare all the 
counsel of God. 

The office of a minister derives its character entirely 
from the nature of the Gospel which he is called to preach. 
If he presents the Gospel in its proper character, he pre- 
sents his office in its proper character. When he brings 
clearly to view the character, law and government of God, 
the character and condition of fallen man, the mission of 
the Son of God into the world, and his sufferings and death 
on the cross as an atonement for sin, the conditions on 
which the guilty may obtain forgiveness throigh Jesus 
Christ, the gift of the Holy Ghost to renew the hearts of 
sinners and make them willing to receive the offered Sav- 
iour, together with the present and everlasting conse- 
quences both of accepting and rejecting the proposals of 
Gospel, his office necessarily appears of peculiar magni- 
tude. If he treat these subjects so that his people can un- 
derstand them, they will of course understand the true 
import and design of his office. If he make these doc- 
trines appear consistent and harmonious, there will appear 
a beautiful consistency in his work. If he establish the 
truth of these doctrines, beyond all rational controversy, 
he will remove all doubt respecting the importance of his 
office. If he awaken attention to these important sub- 
jects, and excite a deep and lively interest among his peo- 
ple, with respect to them, he cannot fail to interest them 
in his work, and secure their respect for his office. But 
let a minister keep out of sight the great truths which con- 
stitute the very essence of the Gospel, and he neces- 
sarily diminishes his office. No intelligent bearer can 
avoid seeing, that where there is nothing preached, the 
preaching is nothing. When a part of the truths of the 
Gospel are preached, and others of equal importance de- 



13 

nied, it must always appear in an inconsistent and unintel- 
ligible light to the hearers, and consequently the office of 
preacher must appear to be an inconsistent and unintelligi- 
ble work. As the Gospel is one entire, harmonious sys- 
tem, it can be understood only w T hen all the doctrines, 
which compose this system are understood. The best 
way to preach it intelligibly is, therefore, to preach it fully. 
And if the nature of the Gospel gives a character to a 
preacher's work, one important method of magnifying his 
foffice, is to declare all the counsel of God. 

3. He must bear with cheerful submission the trials of 
'his office. It appears to be the purpose of God, that the 
faithful ministers of Christ should be partakers with him in 
his sufferings. In the same sentence in which the Lord 
told Ananias, whom he had required to go and instruct 
Saul of Tarsus after his conversion, that he was designed 
as a preacher of the faith he once destroyed, he expressed 
fully his determination, that he should be a sufferer in his 
cause. 6l Go thy way: for be is a chosen vessel unto 
me, to bear my name before the Gentiles and kings, and 
the children of Israel: for I will show him how great 
things he must suffer for my name's sake." Thai his pre- 
diction was fulfilled, none can doubt, who have read the 
history of Paul. In a comparison, which he makes be- 
tween himself and some who pretended to be ministers of 
Christ, he gives a concise, but affecting description both 
of his labors and sufferings. " Are they ministers of 
Christ? (I speak as a fool,) I am more; in labors more 
abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more fre- 
quent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews, five times received I 
forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, 
once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night 
and a day have I been in the deep: in journeyings often, 
in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine 
own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the 



14 

city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils amongst false 
brethren: in weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, 
in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and naked- 
ness. Besides these things that are without, that which 
cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches." 

Each of the Apostles was called to endure great trials. 
Their master before them was u a man of sorrows and 
acquainted with grief." And the prophets who foretold 
his advent upon the earth, were signalized by the suffer- 
ings they endured. • It is sufficiently evident, both from 
the word of God, and the history of his providence, that 
it is his purpose, that those who preach the Gospel, shall 
suffer for his name's sake. The ministerial office has its 
peculiar trials, and it cannot be honored, unless these are 
endured with fortitude and submission. Faithful ministers 
at the present day, frequently suffer much from the sever- 
ity of their labors; from the incompetency of their sup- 
port; from the opposition, reproach and slanders of the 
wicked; from the weakness and instability, the ignorance 
and wickedness of professing christians; from the fact that 
many of their hearers reject the offers of divine mercy, 
and perish in their sins; from the inability of their hearers 
to sympathize with them in their trials, and from the coun- 
teracting influence of various classes of false teachers. 
More or less of these trials are experienced, and must be 
experienced by every faithful minister. And the honor of 
the sacred office will be materially affected by the manner 
in which they are borne. If they are submitted to with 
cheerfulness, and borne with fortitude and patience, they 
cannot fail to reflect great honor upon the ministry. The 
Apostle Paul never appeared in a more interesting and ami- 
able light, and never more effectually magnified his office, 
than when he manifested the spirit, which is breathed out 
in the following language. " Behold, I go bound to Jeru- 
salem, not knowing the things that shall befal me there, 



15 

save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, say- 
ing, That bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of 
these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto 
myself; so that I might finish my course with joy, and the 
ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to tes- 
tify the gospel of the grace of God." When the love of 
Christ, and a desire for the salvation of souls, carries a 
minister above his severest trials, and bears him onward 
in his course with such cheerfulness and joy as are here 
manifested by the Apostle Paul, his sufferings become the 
occasion of his magnifying his office. But oh! how does 
he belittle it, when he repines and murmurs, when he 
vexes his soul and frets, when he becomes dejected and 
morose, under the sufferings which God has seen fit to con- 
nect with his high vocation* 

Ministers of Christ have solid ground for submission and 
Cheerfulness under their trials for his sake. Assurance is 
given them from the word of God, that these shall all be 
overruled for the promotion of his glory, and the ultimate 
triumph of his cause. They see in these, the fairest op- 
portunity of manifesting their love to him in, a more full 
and striking manner than is possible, by any mere act of 
obedience. They know too, that these sufferings are con- 
nected in the purpose of God, with a participation of the 
glory of Christ, and that they constitute an essential requi- 
site for the highest enjoyments of heaven. Let them then, 
after the example of the Apostles, " give no offence in 
any thing, that the ministry be not blamed ; but in all 
things approving themselves, as the ministers ol God, in 
much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, 
in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in watch- 
ings, in fastings; by honor and dishonor; by evil report 
and good report; as deceivers and yet true; as unknown 
and yet well known; as dying, and behold they live; as 
chastened and not killed; as sorrowful yet always rejoic- 



u 

ing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing and 
yet possessing all things." In this way they may magnify 
their office to the admiration of the world, and the aston- 
ishment of angels. 

4. If ministers would magnify their office, they must 
constantly endeavor to increase their qualifications for it. 

When introduced into the sacred office, they are sup- 
posed to possess in a good degree, the requisite qualifica- 
tions for it. But it is not supposed, that they possess these 
qualifications in so high a degree as is desirable. The 
churches which invite them to become their pastors, do 
not suppose this. The councils which ordain them do 
not suppose this. The candidates themselves do not sup- 
pose this. On the other hand, while they contemplate the 
magnitude of the work, on which they are about to enter, 
they are led with deep feeling to exclaim, " Who is suffi- 
cient for these things!" They feel the need of more piety, 
of greater talents, of more knowledge, and of more wis- 
dom. And, generally speaking, the only ground on which 
they consent to enter upon the work, is a strong expecta- 
tation of greatly increasing their qualifications for its du- 
ties. The churches which invite them to the pastoral 
office, and the councils which ordain them, both expect 
that they will be growing men. They look for results to 
be accomplished in their ministry, which they know they 
are not able to accomplish now, but which they hope they 
will accomplish hereafter. Now, if by a close application 
to their studies, a faithful use of the means of grace, and a 
right improvement of their gifts, they do increase their 
qualifications for the ministry, and accomplish a propor- 
tionate amount of good, they magnify their office. It is 
manifest from the course that they pursue, that they highly 
appreciate their sacred calling, that they feel their obliga- 
tion to be prepared for its duties, and that it is a work 



with which, in their estimation, no man ought to trifle. 
The language of this conduct in its practical effects, is a 
great honor to the ministry. Besides, the fuller exhibition 
of the Gospel, which they will be able to make, the bright- 
er example, in illustration of its great doctrines and pre- 
cepts, which they will be able to set, and the more numer- 
ous and important results which they will actually accom- 
plish, in consequence of this increase of their ministerial 
qualifications, will all tend to magnify their office in the 
view of the world. But, if by a neglect of their appro- 
priate studies, the misimprovement of their talents, the 
devotion of their time to worldly pursuits, or by any other 
means within their control, they diminish rather than in- 
crease their qualifications for the ministry, they dishonor 
their sacred calling. No minister of the Gospel, without 
a regular increase of his qualifications for his work, can 
keep pace with the improvements of the age. The rapid 
march of intellectual improvement, which attends the pres- 
ent prosperous state of our country, must shortly leave 
every man, who is retrograde or stationary in his attain- 
ments, in the rear of many of his cotemporaries. The 
literary and theological attainments of ministers, with which 
the churches are satisfied now, may be far less than those 
which will answer their demands a few years hence. No 
minister of the Gospel ought to cherish the hope of reputa- 
bly sustaining his office, without a constant effort to in- 
crease his qualifications for the discharge of its duties. 

5. Another way in which ministers of the Gospel are 
to magnify their office is, to maintain a character corres- 
ponding with its nature. This is, indeed, implied in what 
has been advanced under the last head; but it is of suffic- 
ient importance to demand a more particular consideration. 
There is a universal impression, that there ought to be 
something peculiar in the character of a minister. Wher- 
ever the nature of his office is known, there is a feeling in 
3 



18 

every mind, that the character of him, who sustains ity 
should be distinguished in some very important respects 
from that of ordinary men. There is a real foundation for 
this feeling. It is that plain common sense of mankind.- 
which demands that there should be a correspondence 
between one thing and another. The office of a minister 
is a holy calling. It is seen and felt, therefore, that he* 
should be a holy man. Sent as he is by the authority of 
God, appearing as he does in the name of God, called as 
he is to stand between God and man, and to speak from 
God to them, and from them to God, the impression that 
he ought to be a godly man, is distinct and indelible upon 
every mind. 

The office of a christian minister is a high as well as a> 
holy calling. The relation in which he stands to God and 
Christ, and the magnitude of the interests which are en- 
trusted to his care, render him conspicuous in the view of 
men. The eyes of a great multitude are upon every man 
in this station. It is, therefore, desirable not only that he 
should be holy, but eminently holy. Ordinary piety is 
clearly insufficient for such a station as this. His soul- 
ought to be in constant communion with God, his conver- 
sation seasoned with grace, and his life a continued exem- 
plification of the precepts which he inculcates upon others. 

The work of a minister is a serious work. The law 
and government of God, the perishing condition of fallen 
man, the work of redemption through Jesus Christ, the 
terms on which salvation is offered to the guilty, the sol- 
emn scenes of the judgment day, the eternal retribution, 
both to the righteous and the wicked, are subjects on 
which he is daily called to think, and write, and speak. 
These things require not only solemnity of thought, but a 
sober countenance and grave deportment. The serious 
nature of a minister's work, requires gravity in his charac- 



19 

ter. This is perfectly consistent with cheerfulness, but 
not with lightness. The serious nature of the subjects on 
which a minister is called to think and speak should make 
him grave. The fact that God reigns, and does all things 
well, should always keep him cheerful. 

In the discharge of his duties, every faithful minister is 
frequently called to meet opposition. The peculiar trait 
of character which is appropriate to this emergency, is a 
meek and quiet spirit. u The servant of the Lord must 
not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 
in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if 
peradventure, God will give them repentance to the ac- 
knowledgment of the truth." 

The work of the ministry is an exceedingly difficult 
work. The imperfections of saints, the depravity of sin- 
ners, and the artifices of Satan, exert each an agency in 
throwing obstacles in the way of his success. To meet 
these difficulties in all their various attitudes, and to pre- 
vent a defeat in the great objects of his pursuit, he must 
exercise sound discretion. He must not only be as harm- 
less as a dove, but as wise as a serpent. There is no 
trait of character more appropriate to the nature of a min- 
ister's work, or imperatively demanded by the numerous 
perplexing circumstances in which he is placed, than that 
6 wisdom' which is from above. 

Every minister of the Gospel occasionally meets with 
numerous discouragements. His most judicious meas- 
ures and self-denying efforts, do not always succeed ac- 
cording to his wishes at first. He is often obliged to labor 
long in the way of duty, before the object of his hopes can 
be fully realized. His opinions and his measures, even 
when they are right, will often meet with opposition from 
those who ought to give them their countenance and sup- 



20 

•port. He will often receive intimidating and disheartening 
suggestions from those who do not intend directly to op- 
pose him. Now it is obvious, that in all these circumstan- 
ces, he eminently needs, not only the meekness and wis- 
dom which have been already named, but decision, and 
firmness, and boldness, and perseverance. 

But with all these traits of character, he will fail in his 
work, unless God grant his blessing upon his labors. The 
prosperity of that cause in which he is engaged, is not 
promoted by mere human instrumentality, but by the 
Spirit of the Lord of Hosts. The nature of his work, 
therefore, requires that he should be a devout man, uni- 
formly trusting in God, and looking to him for that divine 
influence, without which all his efforts must be vain. If 
■" an undevout astronomer is mad," what shall be said of a 
prayerless minister? 

The traits of character, then, which the nature of the 
ministerial office demands, are these; piety, seriousness, 
meekness, wisdom, decision, firmness, boldness, persever- 
ance, and prayerfulness. He ought to be, and it is impor- 
tant that he should be, distinguished in all these qualities. 
And who can doubt, that such a character as this, uniformly 
exhibited, would magnify the sacred office. There is one 
thing more, which ministers of the Gospel must do to- 
magnify their office, and that is, 

6. To aim always to accomplish its great design. The 
leading object of the christian ministry appears to be the 
conversion of sinners, and the progressive sancfcification of 
the church. Speaking of himself and his brethren in the 
ministry, Paul says to the Corinthians, tc We are ambas- 
sadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us, 
we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God." 
And when speaking to the Ephesians of Christ's ascension, 



21 

he says, " And he gave some Apostles; and some proph- 
ets; and some evangelists; and some pastors and teachers; 
for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the minis- 
try, for the edifying of the body of Christ; till we all 
come in the unity of faith, and of the knowledge of the 
Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the 
stature of the fulness of Christ." That these passages 
bring to view the leading object of the christian ministry, 
and that this is the conversion of sinners, and the progres- 
sive sanctification of the church, will not be denied. The 
accomplishment of this object, therefore, will magnify the 
office of the ministry. When the word, faithfully dispens- 
ed, is instrumental of leading the careless sinner to con- 
sider the error of his ways; when it convinces him of his 
guilty and perishing condition, as an impenitent and Christ- 
less soul; when, like the fire and the hammer upon the 
flinty rock, it becomes instrumental of breaking his stub- 
born heart and laying him as a subdued and contrite rebel 
at the feet of sovereign mercy; when it opens before him 
the preciousness of Christ's character, and the fulness there 
is in him to save, and, attended by the power of the Holy 
Ghost, makes him willing to accept of Christ as his Lord 
and Savior, and joyfully devote his life to his service, the 
office of the ministry is greatly magnified. Every instance 
of the conversion of a sinner to God, by the preaching of 
the Gospel, reflects great honor upon the office of the min- 
istry. And as it becomes instrumental of turning hundreds 
and thousands from sin to holiness, of delivering them from 
the curse of the law," and of bringing them into the liberty 
wherewith Christ maketh his people free, it is proportion- 
ably magnified. In an equally interesting and honorable 
light does it appear, when it enlightens, sanctifies, comforts 
and strengthens the saints. It is important that these all 
should know the ground on which they stand, that their 
doubts and fears should be dispelled, that they should 
know the duties that are incumbent upon them, that they 



22 

should be apprised of the temptations to which they stand 
exposec, that they should be made acquainted with the 
promises which God has given them, and that all the mo- 
tives to fidelity in the service of God, which the Scrip- 
tures present, should be frequently and distinctly brought 
before their minds. A minister of the gospel is never do- 
ing a more important work, than when he edifies the 
church, and influences them to grow in grace, and in the 
knowledge of their Lord. This is a most important part 
of the great object of his ministry, the attainment of which 
magnifies his office. 

To be instrumental of the conversion of sinners, and the 
sanctification of saints, a minister of the Gospel must aim 
at this object. He must reflect upon it, not only as a most 
desirable object, but with the blessing of God, as an attain- 
able object. He must study, and preach, and converse, 
and pray, with this object always in view. If he does not 
aim at this object, there is no reason to hope that he will 
accomplish it. If he sets his heart upon it, keeps it al- 
ways in view, and seeks its accomplishment in God's ap- 
pointed way, there is no doubt that he will see such fruits 
<of his labors, as will greatly magnify his office. 

III. The reasons why those who are called to 

PREACH THE GOSPEL SHOULD MAGNIFY THEIR OFFICE, 

demands a moment's attention. 

Here the first thing that suggests itself for our conside- 
ration is the fact, that if they magnify their office, they 
will honor God. The office of the ministry is of no hu- 
man origin. It is an appointment of God. His name, his 
authority, and the great interests of his kingdom are inti- 
mately connected with it. He acknowledges this office as 
his own institution, and every one who faithfully discharges 
its duties, as his servant. So intimately has God con- 



23 

nected himself with the office of the ministry, that every 
thing that is done to magnify it must reflect honor upon 
his name; and every thing that is done to diminish it in 
the estimation of men, is a reproach cast upon his charac- 
ter. When ministers of the Gospel give themselves 
wholly to their work, they bring an offering to the altar of 
God, which is peculiarly acceptable in his sight, and he 
acknowledges himself honored by the sacrifice. When- 
they faithfully declare his whole counsel, they honor hinv 
not only by yielding a cheerful obedience to his commands, 
but by manifesting to the world the perfections of his na- 
ture. The great system of redemption, which it is the 
part of the ministry to explain, makes a fuller manifestation 
of his perfections, than any other of his works with which we 
have any knowledge. Those therefore, who, in the exer- 
cise of a proper spirit, preach all the doctrines of the Gos- 
pel fully and plainly, do by this means promote the glory of 
God in the highest degree of which they are capable. 
When they trace the Gospel up to its original source or 
fountain head, the eternal purpose of God to glorify him-^ 
self in the salvation of men; when they preach it in its 
full latitude and extent, as comprising all the works of ere-- 
ation and providence; when they preach it in its full and* 
final effects, as involving the eternal happiness of the right- - 
eous, and the eternal punishment of they wicked, thev 
bring all the perfections of God to view, in one bright con- 
stellation of glory. 

The cheerful submission to their trials, with which -mhv 
isters of the Gospel sometimes magnify their office, re- 
flects great honor upon God. In this way, they become 
living witnesses of his faithfulness to- his promises, and of 
the power of his grace. 

When they magnify their office, by constant endeavors 
to increase their qualifications for it, and especially, when 



24' 

they exhibit a character corresponding with its holy na- 
ture, they honor God by a reflection of his moral image. 
And the success with which they are sometimes enabled 
to magnify their office; produces the same effect, in a still 
higher degree. The conversion of sinners and the growth 
of the church, in the gifts and graces of his Spirit, are a 
peculiar honor to God. In such a work as this, his pow- 
er, his goodness, and his grace are always made manifest, 
and many are influenced to speak his praise: 

2. In magnifying his office, a minister of the Gospel 
honors himself. When he has consecrated himself to this 
w T ork, and entered upon its duties, his character becomes 
so associated with his office, that the honor or disgrace, 
which he brings upon the latter, will necessarily attach it- 
self to the former. All men, who admit the truth of the 
christian religion, and believe in the divine appointment of 
the christian ministry, are prepared to see, that the duties 
of this office are peculiarly important, and its responsibili- 
ties inexpressibly great. It is impossible for them, there- 
fore, to think well of the man, who, alter having assumed 
these duties and responsibilities, treats them with neglect. 
They cannot but feel in such a case, that the most sacred 
obligations are violated. On the other hand, they invol- 
untarily respect the minister who appears deeply sensible 
of the magnitude and importance of his high vocation, 
and who constantly watches, and labors, and prays, that 
fill its duties may be faithfully discharged. They know 
that he ought to give his heart, his time, his talents, him- 
self, wholly to this work; that he ought to preach all the 
doctrines of the Gospel fully and appropriately; that it be- 
comes him to bear submissively the trials of his office, to 
make improvement in his qualifications for this high trust, 
to maintain a character corresponding with its holy nature, 
and to aim sincerely at the full accomplishment of its great 
design. The friends of religion all wish to see every min- 



25' 

Gospel, thus • magnify his office. Those who do this, will 
often receive gratifying tokens of the warm affection and 
high respect in which they are held by many, who have 
been spiritually benefited by their labors. God will honor 
the men, who thus honor him: sometimes by giving them 
signal success in their labors; sometimes by granting pecu- 
liar consolation under their trials; sometimes by raising 
them up warm and efficient friends, who shall strengthen 
their hands and encourage their hearts; sometimes by mak- 
ing even their enemies to be at peace with them; and some- 
times by so controlling the opposition and reproach with 
which they are assailed, as to make these instrumental of 
manifesting the sincerity of their intentions, the goodness 
of their hearts, and the propriety of their conduct. There 
are those in the ministry, who for the sake of escaping the 
reproach of the cross, sometimes conceal the most impor- 
tant truths of the Gospel, sometimes omit the discharge of 
its most self-denying duties, and sometimes devote the time 
which they have solemnly consecrated to God, to merely 
secular pursuits. They may, indeed, in this way escape 
the reproach of the cross; but they cannot escape the re- 
proach of their consciences, the censure of an enlightened 
community, nor the just displeasure of God. u They 
that honor me, I will honor, and they that despise me, 
shall be lightly esteemed:" There is no man, that has 
had opportunity for extensive observation on this subject, 
and that has seriously considered the aspect of Divine 
Providence toward those who magnify, and those who dis- 
grace the office of the ministry, that has not often been 
struck with the truth and pertinency of this divine declara- 
tion. 

3. That minister of the Gospel, who magnifies his of- 
fice, does by this means, render his work comparatively 
easy and delightful. It is a great and arduous work. But 
when a man brings to it all his strength, and devotes to it 
4 



26 

all his time, he may with the blessing of God accomplish 
it. But, if any man attempt to perform this work with 
half his strength, when it is of sufficient magnitude to re- 
quire the whole, and by devoting to it half his time, while 
its duties are sufficiently numerous and important to occupy 
it all, how can he hope to accomplish it? It is evident 
that part of it must be wholly neglected, or else it must all 
be done in an imperfect manner. On all other subjects, 
judicious men understand that the way to perform a great 
work easily, is to bring to it sufficient strength, and to de- 
vote to it a sufficient length of time. But how often do 
ministers of the Gospel attempt to do the great work of 
their high calling, which is sufficient to demand all their 
strength, and all their time, with a great proportion of both 
devoted to other objects ? No wonder their work is dif- 
ficult. No wonder it is perplexing. No wonder, that in 
many instances, it becomes impracticable. When minis- 
ters give themselves wholly to their work, their duties, 
which would otherwise be exceedingly difficult, if not im- 
practicable, become comparatively easy. In this case, 
they have the promise of divine assistance; and through 
Christ strengthening them, " they can do all things." 
The way to render any important work delightful is to do 
it well. That minister of the Gospel who magnifies his 
office does his work well. And though his duties are ar- 
duous, he enjoys great satisfaction in the performance of 
them. He gains new and valuable information, from day 
to day. He obtains important victories over himself. 
He enjoys peace with his own conscience. He sees in a 
greater or less degree, the good effects of his labors. He 
is the object of the affection, respect, and gratitude of the 
children of God. He has a testimony in favor of his 
fidelity in the consciences, even of the wicked. He enjoys 
the presence and approbation of his God. 

4. That course of conduct, which ministers of the 
Gospel must pursue in order to magnify their office is the 



27 

one, and the only one, in which they are authorized to ex- 
pect success. 

In magnifying their office, they use the means of grace 
with their people; they use these means faithfully; they 
use these means appropriately; they use these means in all 
their variety; they use these means prayerfully; they use 
them perseveringly. This is what God requires them to 
do for the conviction and conversion of sinners, and the 
enlargement and prosperity of Zion. These are the means 
which God has promised to bless, and which he has, in 
every age, rendered instrumental of the holiness and sal- 
vation of perishing men. Though God is a sovereign in 
the dispensation of favors, and has not informed us to 
what extent he will bless the faithful use of the means of 
grace in any particular instance; though he may see fit in 
some cases to try the patience of his faithful ambassadors, 
by long delaying the great object of their exertions and 
prayers; and though he does, for wise and holy pur- 
poses, allow the ministration of his word to become to 
some " a savor of death unto death;" yet the great thing 
to be done by ministers of the Lord Jesus with a view to 
save the souls of men, is just what it has been shown they 
must do to magnify their office. Success in the ministry, 
when God gives it, magnifies the sacred office; and that 
course of conduct on the part of ministers, by which they 
in other respects magnify their office, is suited with the 
blessing of God, to secure their success. 

The Scriptures clearly intimate, that the eternal salva- 
tion of their people is, in a very important sense, suspend- 
ed upon that fidelity in ministers, by which they honor 
their office. " Meditate upon these things, give thyself 
wholly to them," says the Apostle Paul to Timothy; and 
immediately adds, " Take heed unto thyself, and unto thy 
doctrine; continue in them; for in so doing, thou shall 



28 

both save thyself, and them that hear thee." And God 
says to Ezekiel, " When I say unto the wicked, wick- 
ed man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to 
warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die 
in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. 
Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn 
from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his 
iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul." Every min- 
ister of the Gospel is authorized to hope, that by truly 
magnifying his office, he may be instrumental of bringing 
sinners to repentance, and preparing them for heaven. 
And should he fail in some instances to secure this impor- 
tant result, he will nevertheless, save his own soul. On 
the other hand, he is admonished, that unfaithfulness in 
his sacred calling, will put in jeopardy the souls of his 
people, and make him accountable for their blood. 

This subject suggests many important reflections, on 
■which, were there time, I should be happy to dwell. But 
I shall presume upon your patience only while I name in 
an informal way, two or three thoughts, which ought not 
to be overlooked or forgotten- It must be obvious to all 
who have given their consent to the leading truth illustrated 
in this discourse, that ministers ought not to be encum- 
bered as they are with worldly cares. These prevent their 
growth in knowledge, chill the ardor of their piety, occupy 
too much of their precious time, and in various ways, di- 
minish both their disposition and their power to do good. 

Young men ought to be well qualified for the sacred 
office, before they enter upon it. With low qualifications, 
they may indeed honor it, in some respects, and to a cer- 
tain degree. But if it is desirable that ministers should 
magnify their office at all, it is desirable that they should 
do it in a high degree. And it cannot be denied, that 
those, who enter their work with high qualifications, have 



29 

a much fairer opportunity to do this, than those whose at- 
tainments are small. 

If ministers are under obligation to magnify their office^ 
it follows undeniably, that the people ought to respect it. 
It is no less the duty of the people, than that of their min- 
isters to honor all the institutions of God. Because the 
office of the ministry is an institution of God, and suited to 
promote the honor of his name, and the present and ever- 
lasting good of his creatures; ministers themselves are 
bound to do it honor. And for the same reason, every 
man is under obligation to treat it with respect. It is true, 
that those who fill the sacred office, may not always be 
worthy of respect. It is a lamentable fact, that they are 
not. But this alters not the nature of the office. It still 
remains a divine institution, and as such, is worthy of uni- 
versal respect. Nor is it too much to expect of enlight- 
ened and candid men, that they will make every necessary 
distinction between the nature of the office, and the char- 
acter of him who fills it. 

The duty of ministers of the Gospel to magnify their 
office, naturally suggests the correspondent duty of their 
people to see, that their circumstances are such, that they 
can do it. In this country, ministers are generally depend- 
ent upon their people for the means of support. If this 
is withheld, or but inadequately furnished, their time is 
necessarily consumed in secular pursuits, their attention di- 
verted from the great objects of their calling, and the en- 
ergy of their characters destroyed, by perplexing cares 
and anxiety. It is no less the interest than the duty of 
every people, to whom God has given a faithful minister, 
to see that his circumstances are such as to admit of his 
magnifying his office in the highest degree. They should 
not only see, that he be not embarrassed with worldly 
cares and anxieties, but that the calls upon him for active 



30 

labor, be not so numerous and pressing as to break up his 
habits of study, and prevent his growth in knowledge. 

As other members of the Council are designated to ad- 
dress the Pastor elect on this occasion, I shall here sub- 
mit this subject to his reflection, without further remark. ] 

But I shall be excused, if I indulge myself in a word to 
this church and society. The circumstances in which I 
am called to meet you this evening, brethren and friends, 
forcibly recall to my mind the time when I was myself a 
worshipper in your assembly, and a communicant with you 
at the Table of the Lord. While many, with whose coun- 
tenances I was then familiar, with whom I took sweet 
counsel and walked to the house of God in company, are 
now numbered with the congregation of the dead; I here 
meet with a few of those who were members of this church 
and society twenty-eight years ago. And to me, it is an 
affecting, as well as a gratifying circumstance, that I see on 
this council, the respected and beloved man,* who was 
then °ur Pastor, and to whose able ministry and faithful 
pastoral care, I have ever since felt myself peculiarly in- 
debted. Much that I now esteem as important truth was 
first taught me here by his lips. And the impressions, 
which were then made upon my youthful mind, by the ex- 
ample of his fervent piety, have never been erased. 

Great changes I behold in your circumstances. Your 
little assembly has become a great congregation. Your 
former place of worship is exchanged for this spacious and 
elegant temple. God has visited you both in mercy and in 
judgment. While we have lamented the removal of your 
late worthy Pastor, we have rejoiced in the prospect of the 
speedy re-settlement of the ministry among you. Our 
young brother we commend to you, as one in whom we 

*Kcv. Thomas Williams. 



31 

trust, the Spirit of God resides. Listen to him, when he 
speaks to you in the name of God, and be ever ready to 
receive the truth from his lips. Consider his youth. 
Make due allowance for his inexperience, and help him 
by your counsel, by your sympathies, and your prayers. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



022 168 946 A 



